<div><strong>Our Story: Gaza Collective</strong><br />
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<div>"<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jeeslabel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jee's</a>”, our labor of love, was founded in 2020, as a Gaza-based small enterprise dedicated to supporting artisans and craftworkers, while also empowering women and youth through immediate project relief and fostering sustainable employment opportunities for families with skilled crafts like embroidery, wood crafts, ceramic crafts, and others. Our primary objective is to provide families with the exposure necessary to tap into global markets and earn a passive income.

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<div>Returning to Gaza in 2023 with aspirations of investing in new products and expanding sales worldwide was our primary objective. However, the harsh reality struck deep when our $5000 investment, coupled with the tireless efforts of numerous artisans, was reduced to rubble. Our sewing workshop, homes, and the cherished products we poured our hearts into are all destroyed.

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<div>Thus, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gaza_collective/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gaza Collective</a> emerged— in the middle of the chaos and destruction, one thing remains unwavering, our determination to persevere. We refuse to let the adversities of war quench our passion and purpose.

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<div>Amid the breakout of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, numerous families find themselves trapped in a dire humanitarian crisis. Our primary objective is to assist them by addressing their urgent needs.

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<div><em>Since October 2023, we have led many initiatives to alleviate the suffering of these families by providing essential resources such as water supply, health supplies, food packages, and money transfers to assist with the rising cost of living in the Gaza Strip through a network of local volunteers and family members. </em>

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<div>In the face of such devastation, our only beacon of hope lies in our resilience. With this resolve in mind, we are dedicated to equipping these resilient individuals with the necessary rebuilding tools. Although the road ahead may be fraught with challenges, surrender is not an option.

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<div><strong>Why Collective Mutual Aid Matters</strong>

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<div>Our transition from providing aid only to empowering people and communities represents a fundamental shift in the approach to supporting families in need. While aid remains crucial in addressing immediate humanitarian crises, empowerment and employment strategies offer a pathway toward long-term resilience and self-sufficiency, especially in the initial stages of resettlement. By investing in education, skills training, entrepreneurship, and social cohesion, we can empower displaced families to rebuild lost livelihoods with dignity and hope, transcending the current challenges of the war.

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<div>Palestinian independence is needed now more than ever, and your support for our initiative marks the first step in a transformative journey of a thousand miles.

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<div><strong>Sustainability Over Breadcrumbs:</strong>

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<div>The Israeli war on Gaza has resulted in widespread devastation, leaving many families in dire need of immediate assistance. While providing aid packages is essential in addressing immediate needs, reliance solely on direct aid can foster a sense of dependency among affected communities.

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<div>Continuous aid without a pathway towards self-sufficiency can perpetuate cycles of poverty and vulnerability leading to an increased psychological burden on skilled families who lost entire businesses and livelihoods. Moreover, aid delivery is constrained by logistical challenges and political complexities, limiting its effectiveness in reaching those most in need.

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<div>Recognizing the limitations of traditional aid models, we are providing complementary alternatives with empowerment strategies to foster self-reliance and resilience among families in Gaza. Central to this transition is supporting initiatives such as microfinance schemes, and job placements with hourly wages that are being implemented to equip individuals with the tools and resources needed to secure sustainable work and improve their economic prospects.

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<div><strong>Resilience and Social Cohesion: </strong>

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<div>Beyond economic re-empowerment, efforts to support families in Gaza encompass broader initiatives aimed at building resilience and fostering social cohesion for displaced people. Community-based programs that promote social integration, conflict resolution, and psychosocial support are essential in addressing the underlying trauma and fostering a sense of solidarity among affected people.

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<div>Furthermore, offering educational and recreational programs for children is necessary for providing psychological relief, particularly for parents who may lack the energy due to food shortages or the capacity to deal with their children or bring joy to their lives.

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<div>These programs create employment opportunities and allow for direct engagement with families, particularly children, where delivering food and aid packages becomes logistically viable. By strengthening social networks and support systems, communities are better equipped to withstand future shocks and allow aid to reach underserved communities.

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<div><strong>Our Commitment: All of Us Together</strong>

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<div>Together, we will emerge from the ashes, fortified and resolute. Our mission is about empowering people, upholding their dignity, and cultivating a fair future for generations to come. Amidst the turmoil of war and the hardships plaguing Gaza, our commitment to supporting its resilient people, especially women, who stand at the forefront of their community remains steadfast.

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<div>Through microfinance, and job placements, we’re not just offering aid—we’re providing pathways to self-sufficiency. But our mission extends beyond economics. By fostering social cohesion, providing psychosocial support, and creating opportunities for education and recreation, we’re rebuilding not just livelihoods, but the very fabric of our community.

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<div><strong>Engage with Collective Care in Gaza</strong>

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<div>Since October, we have directed all our resources toward empowering individuals and families, offering avenues for growth and stability amidst adversity. However, our efforts alone cannot suffice. We implore your support to continue engaging with meaningful changes in our lives.

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<div><strong>Join us in our mission. Together, we are Gaza Collective.</strong>

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<div><strong>Current Projects</strong>

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<div><strong>1. Embroidery:</strong>

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<div>Despite the destruction and displacement, we aim to offer embroiderers threads and needles so they can continue their embroidery work in makeshift shelters and tents. We strive to reclaim a sense of hope amid turmoil. Thereby sustaining support for women to provide for their families.

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<div><strong>2. Re-establishing a Clothing Factory:</strong>

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<div>Before this devastating war, Mahmoud owned a clothing factory with skilled workers. After a few months of this ongoing war, he had the expertise needed to operate a small home factory but lacked the funds to buy fabrics and pay the workers. We provided Mahmoud with $2000, enabling him to purchase the necessary tools to begin manufacturing thermal linens and winter clothes. Now, we need an additional $2000 to buy spring and summer products from Mahmoud's factory at a fair price to keep distributing clothes for people in tents and shelters, supporting the community while providing a livelihood for Mahmoud’s family during these dire circumstances.

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<div><strong>3. Establishing Home Bakeries:</strong>

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<div>Due to the ongoing war and the severe shortage of gas in the Gaza Strip, many families have turned to mud ovens to establish home bakeries. These ovens allow them to bake bread, cakes, cookies, and other goods, which they sell to earn a living. The bakeries also offer a service to bake bread for those who don't have access to an oven. We provide all the necessary money, supplies, and tools to help families build these ovens, start baking, and eventually begin selling their products to support their livelihood.

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<div><strong>4. Open Street Stands:</strong>

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<div>Displaced families who have lost everything face immense challenges in rebuilding their lives and securing a livelihood. Many are struggling to survive while living in shelters. We are assisting these families in establishing various street stands, such as those selling water, food, sweets, spices, and nuts. By providing the necessary tools and supplies, we help them set up these stands, which not only contribute to food accessibility in the community but also offer a sustainable income to support their families during these difficult times.

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<div><strong>5. Families, Mothers and Newborns Care:</strong>

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<div>In recent months, our primary focus has been on supporting families, especially pregnant women and new mothers, who have been affected by the war. While we work to empower people through livelihood opportunities, there is still a pressing need to provide them with urgent assistance, including:

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<div>•	Cash assistance

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<div>•	Food packages

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<div>•	Hygiene packages

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<div>•	Mother and baby packages

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<div>Sustaining this critical support remains one of our top priorities. Subsidizing the high costs of buying food or obtaining hygiene supplies, while it is challenging to find in the first place.

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<div><strong>6. Educational and Recreational Activities:</strong>

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<div>Given the relentless psychological strain endured by families in Gaza, we are spearheading several educational and recreational initiatives to directly engage with displaced families and children, addressing the urgent need for psychological relief. Our primary goal is to establish a small school catering to children under 12 years old. Providing a space for children to spend their days is paramount for prioritizing education amidst war, an act that’s already practiced widely by the women of Gaza.

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<div>Moreover, the school serves as a strategic hub for distributing food supplies to children, creating job opportunities, and hosting recreational events designed to alleviate the psychological burdens faced by families residing in shelters. The school will run a pilot program initially with a pathway for permanent educational space.

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<div>All Projects will be documented with photographs and videos in a way that preserves the dignity and the privacy of our people. The campaign will be updated.

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<div>We are looking for more initiatives to support. For any further information, please email us or follow us on Instagram.

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Simeon de Schepper

Anonymous

May Mundt-Leach

Unity for Gaza: Mutual Aid & Resilient Livelihoods

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